Automatic thread changing mechanism for striping attachments



Dec. 5', 1933. F. w. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC THREAD CHANGING MECHANISM FOR STRIPING ATTACHMENTS Filed Feb. 4, 1930 Frank W Robinson,

Patented Dec. 5, 1933 UNITEDsST 'ATES PATENTTOFFICE- -AUTOMATIC THREAD CHANGING MECHA- NISM FOR STRIPIN G ATTACHMENTS,

Frank W. Robinson, Reading, Pa., assignor to Schuylkill Hosiery Mills, Inc., Reading, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 1 Application February 4, 1930. Serial No. 425,741 1s Claims. (01. 66- 135) My invention relates to improvementsin stripingattachmentsfor circular knitting machines, my main object being to. provide for automatically actuated selected changes of theaddedem- 5 broidery threads producing, the several stripes by determined, feeding, of one or another of a plurality of such threads carried by each striping thread guide device, whereby greatly increased varieties of pattern designs and color effects may be produced in a simple and economical manner. l

More particularly provements in the construction and operation of the several striping thread guides feedingthe threads to the knitting needles,;and consists in the novel structure more fully described hereinafter in connection with the accompanying drawing, the patentable features thereof being pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing,--

Fig. 1 is mainly a, diagrammatic sectional elevation of a usual circular knitting machine hav ing a known striping attachment, only such essential parts thereof being shownas sufficient to fully disclose a preferred embodiment of my improved changing thread feeding guides, and their automatic selective operation.

Fig; 2 shows separately one of thethread guides indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig; 3 is sectional elevation, on the line 3 3 ofFig. 2. p V i 5 Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevation ofthe lower end of the thread .guide shown in Fig. 2, but indicating a different thread guide finger moved into feeding position.

The knitting machine may be of any known circular type,that indicated in the drawing having a rotatable cylinder 5, driven from shaft 6,

and carrying a complement of needles '7, to produce a knit fabric through the cooperation of associated cam mechanism and! main thread feeding fingers not indicatedinthe drawing as old in the art and well'understood and forming no partvof the present improvements."

The production of vertical embroidery stripes and figures on such knitted fabric is also old in the art and well understood, and is commonly effected by guides feeding added" thread to cer-' tain needles in successive cylinder rotations, various forms of such guides being known but all commonly carrying a single thread, or a plurality of thread jointly fed by the needle engaging feeding movement of said guide. My present improvements relate to means for changing the thread or threads thus fed by each guide, and comprise means for supplying a plurality of threads to each guide and for selectively feeding one or another thereof to the needles, and for determinedlycontrolling such, changes my invention comprises iminaccordance with predetermined pattern de signs.

. The drawing attachment more fully described. in my prior Patent No.1,428,398, issued Septemberfi, 1922,

the thread guide devices 10 however embodying my present improvements, and being shown as intermediately pivotally suspended at 11 in a ring member 12 which is rotatably mounted in'afixed bearing l3qoverhanging the needle cylinder 5. Member 12 has a superimposed bobbin tableul i shows a known formr'of striping and drive gear15, all jointly rotatable and driven a at needle cylinder speed from shaft 6., through vertical shaft 16 having suitable drive gears as shown. A shaft 18, in axial alinement with needle cylinder 5, is fixedly suspended above the latter and forms an axle bearing for ring i l2,

mechanism to position cam disc 19 for determined action of its recessed cam path 25 and fixed con-' tact member 26 upon each guide devicelO as here-;

tofore to impart a needle engaging swing to the;

latter;

7: Each guide device 10, as shown in .thedrawing, is generally similar to that of my aforesaid'patent, and comprises a main portion orsupporting element in the form .of a medially pivotedlever,

- 30 having an offset headedpostBl at the top, and v a shank 32 rotatably mountedjinmain portion 30,

and having a projecting angular head 3311101 mally held against a main portion stop 34" bythe,

an intermedi-L ioo radially across thecircle of needle's, angular head.

or flag-like projection 33 thencontacting. with member 26 on said disc 19 to rotate said shank in the mannermore fully'set forth in my'aforesaid 'prior patent, said shank heretofore having a thread guide fingerat its-lower projecting end to feed a single thread, or a plurality of threads jointly, 'circumferentially 'a-longa portionof .the s circle of needles, certain ofwhich areraised at this time to receive said thread or threads.

,lviy present improvements, .as aforesaid, "contemplate .the selected feeding of one of a plurality of threads by'said guide device 10,- and for thispurpose'l substitute for the single thread:

the lower projecting end. of shank 32. and rotatable therewith, said biocks having a plurality of thread guide fingers, each carrying its sepa I onsaid carrier to reversely-move thereon into rate embroidery'thread or threads.

As shown in the drawing block 40 is indicated as vertically recessed to receive a pair of. thread guide fingers 41 and 42 pivotally swingable' on pivot support 430, said fingers being preferably 'reversely movable so as to. project one at at'ime into needle feeding position. I H

In order that determined automatic selective projection of said fingers 41and-42maybe effect ed as desired, main guide portion 30, as shown has a platform extension 43 against which block 40 rests due to. action of spring 35,wbut"from which it may be moved by axial depression of shank 32;

. Theout'er edge of platform extension 43, as shown,

is preferably curvedin an arc radial to the axis of shank'32andbent toform afia'nge 44extending the full length of the radial swing imparted to said block 40 by turning movementfof the shank 32.

. fFinger 41 is shown as having an inclined extension 45, and a spring 46, while finger 42 is formed with an angular projection 47 adapted to ride 'on flange. 44, whichprojection' as seen in a the finger 41to feeding position against retractting machines comprising apivotally supported member, a rotatable and vertically movable shank. member mounted on said'pivotal member, and a Fig.4; indicating block was depressedfromplatform 43, will tilt or swing the finger 42 to feeding position, while spring 46 will withdraw the finger 41. When block 40 is released and raised by. spring '35 to contact with platform 43, extension will engage againstthe latter-and-swing ing. tension of spring 46, and projection 47 will also engage against platform 43 to move the finger421to non-feeding position.- In order thatsuch change movements of fingers 41 and 42 "maybe simplyeffected automatically at pattern controlled periods I have] 24, disc 19 may be shifted to different position Vertically "to effect determined stripe feeding movementa as first position, no stripe, lowered a step, stripe feeding withfingeri -ilin action, and lower a second step, finger i2 changed for finger' il, it being understoodthat cam groove 25 is of sufiicientdepth to permit suchsecond lower ingmovement without interfering'with itsneedle engaging swinging movement'on the several guide devices shown. 1 *Byzmeans "of the construction thus fully set forth, itwillloe see'n that either guide finger 4i or 42 maybe automatically positioned forfee'cling its thread to thestriping'needles, providing a change: of color when desired duringv the stripe v formationgsuoh changes being-determined byv suitably positioned projectionsondrum 24:. And whileIIhave 'shownmy invention as'applied to a formiofstriping attachment of the type set forth in my. aforesaid patent, I do: not limit myself to such form as my improvements may-be readily applied :to'other' known forms or f or anyselective v feedingof such fingers in 'guides'havin'ga greater plurality of fingers than the two shown in the drawing.

WhatIclaim is: v I 1;"In combination with a circular knitting machine having a needle cylinder and operating 5 1 cam mechanism, a "verti'cal'striping attachment having a carrier device provided with means for automatically changingi' Tthe-thread fed to a selected group of needles; said means comprising a pairrof thread-feeding guide fingers mounted and out of needlefeeding position and pattern- 'control' meansfor reversely moving said guide fingers and imparting a needle-engaging swing to the feedinglypositioned finger.

. 2..In' combination with a circular knitting ma- ;chine havinga'needle' cylinder and operating cam mechanism, a vertical striping attachment having a carrier device provided with means for.

automatically changing the thread fed to a selected group of needles, said means comprising a pair of thread-feeding guide fingersmount'ed on said carrier to reverselymove radiallyninto.

and out of needle-feeding position, and patterncontrol means for reverse'ly moving saidaguide H fingers and for imparting a needle-engaging swingable part and a vertically movable rotative part mounted on the latter and carrying aplurality of oppositely'movable thread feeding fingers, and pattern controlled means operative on said parts to-radially swing and vertically move and rotate said. respective parts to oppositely position one of said thread feeding fingers and impart a needle engaging movement thereto..

4. A striping thread carrier for circular-knitplurality of thread-feeding guide fingers in said by vertical movement of said shank.

.5. A striping threadcarrierfor circular knitting machines comprising a'pivotally supported memberhaving an angular platform, a rotatable and vertically movable shank mounted on said pivotal member and having a headed end normally seated against said platform, a pair of thread-feeding guide fingers pivotally mounted in said headed lend and' spacedly: positioned by engagement with said platform, said fingers being reversely' positioned by movement' of said fhead from said platform.

' 6. A striping thread carrier forcircularkn'itting machines comprising a pivotally supported member, a'rotatable and vertically movable shank member mounted on" said pivotalmember, and f,

a pair of oppositely swinging thread guide fingers mounted in said shank and reversely swung by vertical movement of the latter. 1

7. In combination with acircularknitting machine havinga needle cylinder and-operating j trolled means for relatively positioning said fin gers and jointly swing'ng the same to selectively feed thread therefrom.

8. A striping thread carrier forcircular knit} ting machines comprising a swingingly supported member carrying a plurality or thread feeding guide fingers movable relative. to said swinging 3 member to'position and impart "a. needle en agg ing swing'to a selected finger. 9. Astriping yarnguide positionally fixed rela tive to aseries of-needles, comprising arsupporting element movable crosswise of the needles, a multiplicity of individual yarn feeds supported by said element, and pattern-controlled means governing selective interchange between the yarn feeds, actuation of the supporting element to bring the selected feed into feeding relation with selected striping needles, and movement of such selected feed laterally to wrap its yarn around said striping needles.

10. A striping yarn guide positionally fixed circumferentially of the needle cylinder of a knitting machine, comprising a supporting element movable crosswise of the needles, a multiplicity of individual yarn feeds supported by said element, and pattern controlled means governing selective interchange between the yarn feeds, actuation of the supporting element to bring the selected feed into feeding relation with selected striping needles, and movement of such selected feed laterally to wrap its yarn around said striping needles.

11. A striping yarn guide positionally fixed circumferentially of the needle cylinder of a knitting machine, comprising a supporting element in the form of a lever medially pivoted for radial swinging movementcrosswise of the needles, a multiplicity of individual yarn feeds supported by said element, and pattern-controlled means governing selective interchange between the yarn feeds, swinging of the supporting element to bring the selected guide into feeding relation with selected striping needles, and movement of such selected feed laterally to wrap its yarn around said striping needles.

12. A striping yarn guide positionally fixed circumferentially of the needle cylinder of a knitting machine, comprising a supporting element movable crosswise of the needles, a multiplicity of individual finger-like yarn feeds pivoted to the supporting element, and pattern-controlled means governing selective interchange between the yarn feeds, actuation of the supporting element to move the selected feed into feeding relation with selected striping needles, and swinging of such selected feed on its pivot to wrap its yarn around said striping needles.

13. A striping yarn guide positionally fixed circumferentially of the needle cylinder of a knitting machine, comprising a supporting element in the form of a lever medially pivoted for radial swinging movement crosswise of the needles, a vertical shank journalled in the carrier device, a multiplicity of individual yarn feeds attached to said shank, and pattern-controlled means governing selective interchange between the yarn feeds, swinging of the supporting element to bring the selected feed into feeding relation with selected striping needles, and rocking the shank to determine wrapping of the yarn served by such selected yarn feed around said striping needles.

14. A striping yarn guide positionally fixed circumferentially of the needle cylinder of a knitting machine, comprising a supporting element in the form of a lever medially pivoted for radial swinging movement crosswise of the needles, a vertical shank supported by said element with capacity for axial shifting movement and also for rocking movement, a multiplicity of individual finger-like yarn feeds pivotally attached to the shank, means operated through variant axial shifting of the shank to selectively interchange one yarn'feed for another, and pattern controlled means governing shifting of the shank for selection of a H feed, swinging of the supporting element to bring the selected feed into feeding relation with selected striping needles, and rocking of the shank to swing such selected feed laterally so that its yarn is wrapped around said striping needles.

15. A striping mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising a supporting element I in the form of amedially pivoted lever positionally fixed for swinging movement crosswise of the needles; a vertical shank supported by said lever with capacity for endwise shifting and for rock-,

lever, a circumferential projection to cooperate wth a flag-like projection at the top of' the shank aforesaid, and a circumferential flange abutting the top of said flange-like projection;

and pattern controlled means governing variant axial shifting of the cam disk to effect inter change of the yarn feed fingers by depression of the flag and the shank, swinging of the lever to bring the selected feed into feeding relation with selected striping needles by coaction of said lever with the cam groove, and rocking of the shank to swing the selected feed and effect wrapping of the yarn around said striping needles by actuation of the flag-like projection by the circumferential projection of the disk. i

16. In a circular knitting machine a rotary circle of independent needles, means for raising needles selectively at a'point on the needle circle, a plurality of pattern yarn guides adapted to rotate with said needles and lay yarns in front of the needles thus raised, in combination with a stationary element operative upon the guides to arrest temporarily the rotation of the yarn laid in front of the selected needles until caught under the hooks of said needles, and means adapted to operate said pattern yarn guides selectively to cause the laying of different yarn in front of the' a plurality of pattern. yarn guidesadapted to rotate with said needles and lay yarns in front of the needles thus raised, in combination with'a stationary element operative upon the guides-to arrest temporarily the rotation of the yarn laid in front ofthe selected needles until caught under the hooks of said needles, a plurality of yarn-feed fingers on saidpattern yarn guides, and means adapted to operate said pattern yarn fingers se-' lectivelyt'o cause the laying of different yarn in front of the same needles in successive courses. 7

18. In a circular knitting machine a rotary circle of independent needles, means, forraising needles selectively at a point on the needle circle,

a plurality of pattern yarn guides adapted to rotate with said needles and lay yarns infront of the needles thus raised, in combination with a stationary element operative upon the guides to arrest temporarily the rotation of the yarn laid in front of the selected needles until caught under' the hooks of said needles, aplurality of yarn-feed fingers on said'pattern yarn guides, and means comprising cams adapted .to operate said pattern yarn guides and said fingers selectively to cause the laying of different yarn in'front of the same needles in successive courses.

,FRANK ROBINS N.

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